Baking
Use baking to sterilize metal tools, and
string for tying the cord. Do not bake
rubber or plastic. It will melt.
Clean and disinfect tools
Wash and rinse all the tools well, then put them into 4 layers of
clean cloth or heavy paper. Wrap the cloth up around the
instruments and tie it shut.
Put the packet of tools or string into a container or on a pan.
Bake on a medium-high heat (170ºC or 340ºF) for 1 hour.
This is a little longer than it takes to bake a big potato or yam. If you cannot
make your oven hot enough, bake items longer.
Let the packet cool, then store it in a clean, dry place.
Pressure steaming
Use pressure steaming to sterilize metal tools or rubber
or plastic equipment.
Some clinics and hospitals have a machine for
sterilizing called an autoclave. Autoclaves sterilize
instruments using pressure and steam. If you have a
pressure cooking pot, you can sterilize your tools in the
same way that an autoclave does.
Put a steamer basket and water in the pressure cooking pot. Put your tools
into the steamer, close the lid on the pot, and put the pot on a flame to boil.
After it comes to a boil, cook at 15 or 20 pounds of pressure for 20 minutes.
After sterilizing tools, let them dry. Do not touch them, or they will not be
sterile anymore!
A Book for Midwives (2010)
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